How to Write Yes in Cursive

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · October 2026 · How we review content

"Yes" in Playwrite US Trad, a typeface modelled on traditional school cursive.

Yes is a three-letter word with one capital that connects and one lowercase letter, the s, that is awkward at the end of a word. The y drops below the line, the e is a small loop, and the s finishes with a short upstroke or a plain end. It looks easy, and it is, as long as the e stays open and the s peaks properly.

Copy and paste "Yes" in cursive

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Letter by letter

Each distinct letter in "Yes" has its own stroke-by-stroke page.

The joins in Yes

Ye: Capital Y is a connecting capital. After the right arm is written, the long descending stroke curls round and sweeps up into the e. Keep the loop of the Y small and let the e start at the baseline.
es: The e exits at the baseline and rises into the s with a small upstroke. Make the s a pointed peak and a short downstroke, so it does not look like another e.

Tricky spots

Capital Y: The Y is two strokes joined at the bottom: a curving left arm and a right arm that drops below the line. If the descender is too short, the Y looks like a U.
The e: A small open loop. If the loop closes up, the e fills in and looks like a dot, which matters most at small sizes.
The final s: The s needs a clear peak. A rounded peak turns the s into an o with a tail. Keep it pointed and finish with a short exit.
Exit stroke of the s: A cursive s at the end of a word finishes with a short upturned tail rather than a join. Keep it short and below the height of the peak.
Lowercase y: In lowercase yes, the y starts with a short u-shaped hook, then the stem drops below the line and loops back to the baseline, where it joins into the e.

Capitals

Capitalise Yes at the start of a sentence, as an answer on its own, or when it is a title. The cursive capital Y connects: the descender curls up and into the e, so you can write it without lifting. Lowercase yes is simpler, and a plain y with a hook and a descender suits signs and notes.

Variations and styles

For a sign, write Yes big with a tall Y and put a small check mark or heart beside it. A signature-style version runs all three letters in one line and ends the s with a long upstroke. A pointed pen gives the Y a heavy descender. Pair it with its opposite, no, on a pair of signs or cards.

Printable practice sheet

Trace the grey letters, then write your own on the empty lines. Prints on one page (Letter or A4).

Cursive practice: Yes

Name: ____________________ coolletteringgenerator.com

Copy-paste versions of Yes

Yes has just one substitute: ℯ (U+212F) in the middle of 𝒴ℯ𝓈, flanked by a regular capital 𝒴 and a regular 𝓈. Bold script 𝓨𝓮𝓼 has none, so it is the version to use if the e looks off. Neither is handwriting, and a screen reader may spell them out.

Yes in cursive: questions

How do you write yes in cursive?

Write a capital Y with a curved left arm and a descender on the right, then sweep up into a small looped e. Join the e to the s with a short upstroke, and finish the s with a small exit. Keep the e open and the s pointed.

Does capital Y connect to the e?

Yes. Capital Y is a connecting capital in traditional cursive. The long descending stroke curls round and rises to the baseline, where the e begins. You can write the whole word without lifting your pen, which also keeps the letters evenly spaced.

How do you finish the s in yes?

End the s with a short upturned stroke, about the length of the peak. It is an exit stroke, not a join. It stops the s looking cut off, and keeps it from curling into a loop. Keep it small and low so it does not look like a hook.

Can I copy yes in cursive text?

Yes. Use the script or bold script versions above. They paste into most apps, but they are symbols rather than a font. A few older devices show empty boxes, and screen readers may not read them as the word yes.